.......for the Steelers to not cut him? I have a feeling that he is going to be as good as Hampton in his prime or at least the Steelers think so. To hang on to him through all his on and off the field troubles, it just baffles the mind. Anyone have thoughts on this?

fezziwig

10-31-2012, 09:39 PM

LOL ! Yep, once I read the title of this thread I sure did laugh out loud. I don't now how the Steelers really feel about the player the person. Maybe they want to direct his life in the right path and to do that they feel a persons life is worth a team spot. Just guessing because it really surprised me to see the Steelers welcome him back. There might be legal stuff with the NFL, his contract, the CBA and what have you that we probably are not aware of. I'm sure somewhere down the line the Steelers have a method to their madness.
I hope this young man well and that he curbs his rage or whatever you would call it. I am a firm believer our team, front office is the best sooooooo, I'm sure they are doing what is best for the team and the player. I would like to remain positive about all of it.

focosteeler

10-31-2012, 09:42 PM

Why cut him before the legal process has even started? Once that happens there is no doubt they (steelers) will do something about it as will the NFL. But until that happens why throw him to the streets? Keep him on the team, help him work on his problem with teammates surrounding him for support. He doesn't deserve a break, but he is young help him learn from his mistakes.

Also I am interested to see what the NFL will do there have been a couple alcohol related things this year on other teams and separate issues, they let Donte Stallworth, and Ray Lewis play after their 'incidents'

feltdizz

10-31-2012, 09:52 PM

LOL... maybe the Steelers aren't throwing him to the curb because they need him. I'm pretty sure if Heath was performing like Casey Hampton and we didn't have any other options at TE Saunders would still be on the team.

Slapstick

11-01-2012, 06:14 AM

Dan Rooney has said previously that each incident is considered on a case-by-case basis...we don't know all of the circumstances...

SidSmythe

11-01-2012, 08:32 AM

Dan Rooney has said previously that each incident is considered on a case-by-case basis...we don't know all of the circumstances...

Exactly....speculation and the court of public opinion means nothing.

Shawn

11-01-2012, 09:11 AM

I agree this doesn't mean a whole lot at this point. Also, it might not matter what the NFL and the Steelers want to do...I believe we are talking about 15 counts with some felonies mixed into that. Who is to say he won't spend some significant time in prison?

RuthlessBurgher

11-01-2012, 12:07 PM

For some historical perspective, once upon a time Fats Holmes shot up a police helicopter following his rookie season. He remained on the team for 5 more seasons following this incident.

Oviedo

11-01-2012, 12:18 PM

For some historical perspective, once upon a time Fats Holmes shot up a police helicopter following his rookie season. He remained on the team for 5 more seasons following this incident.

And while Ta'amu may have had a bad night and serious lapse in decision making, Fats Holmes was indeed cerifiably crazy!!!!!!

feltdizz

11-01-2012, 01:07 PM

And while Ta'amu may have had a bad night and serious lapse in decision making, Fats Holmes was indeed cerifiably crazy!!!!!!

My Dad brought Holmes to my 2nd Bday party and there is a photo of him holding me in my Grandfathers chair. I looked like a mini football in his hands.

They used to party together. Holmes was a generous guy and loved Aliquippa but since he didn't know anyone from that area he would scoop my Dad up to run the town. My Dad said he never witnessed Holmes acting crazy but he loved his booze and drugs... but you didn't want to get on his bad side. He kept a pistol on him at all times.

fezziwig

11-01-2012, 04:04 PM

I was watching Fats being interviewed one time and I can't remember if it was sports annoucers interviewing him or Johnny Carson or what but, they were asking him about his acting career that he was getting involved with. It was shows like Barnaby Jones and or maybe some B movies. They showed some scenes from one of his films/tv show and naturally Holmes was the bad guy. It showed Holmes as a mobster type tough guy that was getting roughed up by the good guy in a fight. They asked him about the one fight scene and Fats said, " see, that's real acting there with me getting my butt kicked. You know in real life I can kick all those guys butts. "

I 'm not sure many people realize just how good Fats was. I remember Noll said of him one time, " Holmes is the first player that I ever seen play his position mistake free and have the perfect game. " I suppose he meant just one game but it is my opinion, if Noll gives you a compliment, it must be the truth and the highest of praise.

hawaiiansteel

11-02-2012, 01:56 PM

Cook: Steelers wrong to keep Ta'amu

November 2, 2012
By Ron Cook / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It seemed so wrong. Seeing rookie nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu on the practice field Thursday with the other Steelers in their South Side indoor facility, getting ready for the game Sunday against the New York Giants. Seeing him in the locker room afterward, shedding his pads, walking to the shower, interacting with his teammates. It all seemed so wrong.

Why is Ta'amu still with the Steelers?

The answer is obvious, isn't it? The Steelers are no different than any other NFL team. They are in the business of winning games. They would love to do it with only upstanding, community-serving young men, the kind you wish your daughter would bring home. But if they must, they will do it with a man facing multiple felonies, one who could be looking at prison time.

It's pretty disgusting, if you think about it.

It's also life in the NFL, 2012, a time when a player's talent trumps just about all.

Actually, this isn't just a 2012 thing. The Steelers long have been known to stick with players who get in trouble, especially if the players are good. Going all the way back to the early 1970s, defensive lineman Ernie Holmes was kept after shooting at a police helicopter above the Ohio Turnpike and later started on their first two Super Bowl teams. More recently, the team stuck with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after he was accused in two sexual assault cases. It stuck with linebacker James Harrison when he faced a domestic abuse allegation. It stuck with kicker Jeff Reed -- at least for a while -- after two alcohol-related incidents.

But the Steelers have been quick to release marginal trouble-making players. Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson is one who comes to mind. He was gone after a domestic abuse incident that happened right around the time of Harrison's. Linebacker Richard Seigler is another. He was gone after he was named in a prostitution ring in Las Vegas.

It's easy to take a tough, moral stand with players who really can't help you win.

The Steelers' decision to keep Ta'amu has to be a football decision. If it were a morality issue, he would have been gone the day of his arrest. Allegedly, he went on a drunk-driving rampage on the South Side early on Oct. 14 and faces 15 criminal charges, including felonies of fleeing police, aggravated assault while driving drunk and three counts of aggravated assault for nearly running down three police officers. The incident was so serious that police could have shot and killed him in the interest of public safety.

And Ta'amu still is with the Steelers?

Man, they really must think he can play.

Initially, the Steelers did the right thing, quickly suspending Ta'amu -- their fourth-round draft pick in April -- for two games without pay after his arrest. He forfeited more than $45,000 of his first-year salary of $390,000 and wasn't allowed around the team's training complex during the suspension.

"It's a disturbing incident, one we take very seriously in our community," coach Mike Tomlin said at the time.

Not that seriously, apparently.

The Steelers reinstated Ta'amu to their 53-man roster this week.

Ta'amu, who didn't dress for any of the first five games, almost certainly won't play against the Giants. It's a decent bet that he'll never play a game for the Steelers. He has a preliminary hearing Thursday and -- if eventually convicted -- could face prison time. Make that he should face prison time. The NFL also could bring further punishment down on him.

Ta'amu spoke to the media Wednesday and acknowledged making "a big mistake." He said he was embarrassed to tell his family of the incident. He seemed genuinely grateful that he hasn't been released by the Steelers or shunned by his teammates. "They have my back," he said of the other defensive linemen. "It feels good to have that support."

Of course, Ta'amu is remorseful. It's always easy to be remorseful after the fact. "I promise it will never happen again," he said.

It probably won't.

It's hard to believe Ta'amu will get behind the wheel of a vehicle and drive drunk again.

Or is it hard to believe?

This was not Ta'amu's first alcohol-related arrest. He was charged with driving under the influence after an incident in 2009 when he was playing for the University of Washington.

Ta'amu doesn't belong with the Steelers. He belongs in a place where he can get help.

My Dad brought Holmes to my 2nd Bday party and there is a photo of him holding me in my Grandfathers chair. I looked like a mini football in his hands.

They used to party together. Holmes was a generous guy and loved Aliquippa but since he didn't know anyone from that area he would scoop my Dad up to run the town. My Dad said he never witnessed Holmes acting crazy but he loved his booze and drugs... but you didn't want to get on his bad side. He kept a pistol on him at all times.

That's a good story. How many of us can say a member from the great 70s Steelers came to their birthday party, not to mention, actually got held by them. Ernie was nuts, like a rabid dog, on the field. Shooting at Cop helicopters would not be tolerated today. Can you imagine? You'd be shot dead.